Show Your Love for Whole Grains

Enter the Whole Grains Council contest to win free dinner for a week

By Jackie Plant

A pictures worth a thousand words, but if your photo is chosen as the winner of the I Love My Whole Grains contest, then its worth moreyou could win a weeks worth of chef-prepared healthy dinners.

More and more Americans are adding whole grains to their daily menu. Whats your favorite way? Is it beef and barley soup, a bowl of steel-cut oatmeal or a crusty grilled cheese on whole-wheat bread? Do you nibble on a whole-grain bar every day for a snack?

The Whole Grains Council, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group that works to increase consumption of whole grains for better health, invites you to tell the world about your favorite whole grains by entering their photo contest, which runs through September 30, 2009. To learn more, go to WholeGrainsCouncil.org; to enter the contest, upload a photo that shows you (or your adorable child) enjoying your familys favorite whole-grain food.

Whole grains are an important part of eating healthythey provide complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals, and are naturally low in fat. There are lots of easy ways to fit them into your dietthese eight ideas will get you started:

1. Use fiber-rich barley instead of white rice the next time you make a pilaf.

3. Pump up your potassium and iron intake by using wheat germ instead of flour or bread crumbs to coat chicken or fish.

4. Prepare a large batch of old-fashioned or steel-cut oats, then freeze in single-portion containers for a quick, healthy breakfast.

5. Try farro as a side dish. It has a nice chewy texture, a nutty flavor and cooks in as little as 10 to 15 minutes. Great served hot or cold.

6. Switch to some of the whole-grain pastas, like Barilla Plus or whole-wheat pasta.

7. Save time: Use ready-made or shelf-stable brown rice rather than making rice from scratch.

8. Want a healthier alternative to white rice or couscous? Try quinoa, the mother of all grains. Its loaded with minerals and high in fiber, but what really sets it apart is that, unlike any other grain, its a complete source of protein. Our Quinoa-Veggie Pilaf recipe is a perfect introduction to this nutritious food.

Your information has been saved and an account has been created for you giving you full access to everything womansday.com and Hearst Digital Media Network have to offer. To change your username and/or password or complete your profile, click here.